Twitter
To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question for many small businesses. Twitter is a great marketing tool for businesses to reach out to people and other companies in an ongoing conversation-like manner. Twitter users live “in the moment” as breaking news, updates, questions, and opinions are announced every second. A quick response time, relevancy, and highlighting your business’s personality are keys to making your voice heard on Twitter.
When it comes to customer service, Twitter is climbing the ranks as being the number one platform for consumers to reach out to brands. Twitter has become a quick way for businesses to address customer concerns and respond to positive feedback. Responding and engaging with customers on Twitter has given businesses a great opportunity to capitalize on social media marketing.
Using Twitter
Either jumping into the conversation or creating your own will get you involved on Twitter. Tweeting multiple times throughout the day and participating in trends and popular hashtags (#) will familiarize yourself within the community. By participating in the hashtag frenzy, this can increase engagement and build trust, leading to increased traffic on your website. Hashtags have become a Twitter standard and it gives users a chance to creatively convey themes, trends, and conversation pieces.
Twitter is best used for:
- Promoting events and activities
- Sharing news and updates
- Offering deals and specials on products and services
- Fostering conversation and relationships through consistent engagement
- Responding to customer feedback in a timely manner
On Twitter, users share what they care about and what is happening in their own world in 140 or less characters. 230 million active users turn to Twitter to bring them closer to subjects they care about, whether it affects them or the businesses down the street. Engaging with real-time Tweets and relating to users can influence conversations and build your business. Remember to connect in context.
What to Avoid
Although Twitter Ads is a newer and useful feature, people do not want to be bombarded with advertisements. Twitter is first and foremost a conversational network—not an ad-dumping suite. Like any other social media network, people want to engage with one another. It is important to personify your business and become a part of the community. Advertising on social media needs to be a part of the conversation. Find a way to relate your content.
Blindly retweeting content without reading can set your business up for failure. Retweeting inappropriate content can misrepresent your business’s beliefs and ideas. Carefully reading related articles and your own content is important to keep your reputation strong and influential.
Increasing Followers and Popularity
To
boost your overall popularity on Twitter, you must continue sharing
interesting content and connect with your audience, but you also need to
let people know you are on Twitter.
It is important to continue
notifying customers that you have a Twitter account, as well as any
other social media network presence. Creating “tweet’ buttons on blog
posts, your website and emails is a great way to notify clients you are
on Twitter. Placing Twitter and other social network logos with links
to your pages are essential in spreading your online presence. Inviting
your business contacts to visit your page can also boost your page’s
traffic.
The End Goal
Successful businesses use Twitter to portray themselves in a friendly, sociable manner. Working to become quick and witty can bring you far in the “Twitterverse” and generate trust and leads for your business. Remaining active on Twitter while offering insights, information, and entrainment will make you influential and powerful on this social network. Twitter should liven up the workplace and invite customers to join in the conversation.
If you are ready to begin, learn how to set up your Twitter account below or contact a digital marketing consultant at 4 Site Digital.
How to Start: 4 Steps
Step 1: Create a Twitter handle and follow step-by-step instructions at the Twitter signup page
Step 2: Follow your friends, share your Twitter handle, and invite your business contacts
Step 3: Begin Tweeting. Follow the advice above to communicate with your audience
Step 4: To further boost and engage audiences, create Twitter ads
For more information and help on using Twitter for small businesses, contact a digital marketing consultant at 4 Site Digital.